Council works on its code of conduct

CITY of Greater Geelong new councillor code of conduct.
The strategic workshop, held last week, was led by Susan Halliday, author of the COGG culture review report, and Terry Bramham of Macquarie Local Government Lawyers.
The workshop covered a range of issues councillors wanted addressed in the new code, as well as the requirements of the Local Government Amendment (Improved Governance) Act 2015.
Victorian councils have four months to rewrite councillor codes of conduct to ensure the new legislative requirements, proposed by the state government last year, are detailed.
Changes to the legislation include requiring councillors to agree to codes of conduct before for councils to establish procedures to deal with alleged breaches, and enabling conduct panels to suspend councillors for six months in instances of serious misconduct.
Ms Hallidy’s review, completed last year, uncovered a litany of bullying and harassment inside the council.
“Councillors were engaged and asked detailed and insightful questions about the new legislation”, she said of last week’s meeting.
“It is agreed that ownership of the document is important and thus far I have witnessed and practical application of the council values.
“I look forward to the second workshop and continuing to work through the remainder of the draft in a comprehensive way.”
Geelong mayor Darryn Lyons said he was proud to lead a council that had moved so quickly.
council in Victoria to contemporise a code of conduct, which includes opportunities for members of the public to have a stronger voice in the governance of our council.”